While at its heart a musical romance, Patience is also a wickedly funny sendup of the Æsthetic
Movement in Victorian England (and pretentious pomposity in every age.) The story centers on world-weary ladies (all of great wealth)
who abandon their privileged but ordinary existence to follow an "&aeligsthetic" ideal embodied in the
"Mystic Poet" Reginald Bunthorne, (inspired by Oscar Wilde) who in turn loves the simple milk maid, Patience.

Everything
is thrown topsy-turvy with the arrival of Bunthorne's opposite poet Archibald Grosvenor, The
"Apostle of Simplicity" whom Patience loves.

This hilarious operatic lampoon twists and turns
to Sullivan's most rapturous music matched by Gilbert's delightfully giddy lyrics and book creating a
sparkling evening of entertainment.

Directing and playing the role of Reginald Bunthorne was Publick Theatre favorite, Bob Jolly who
patiently awaited his opportunity to direct and perform in Patience at the Publick. "This has
been a dream role worth the wait," said Jolly, who first suggested the play to Artistic Director,
Spiro Veloudos 10 years ago. "We didn't have the Gilbert & Sullivan audience we have now,"
commented Veloudos, "however, now is the perfect time."

July 10-27, 1997:

Berowne (Scott Harrison) and Rosaline (Dee Nelson) match wits.

This delightful courtly comedy celebrates love and the foolish antics of young men in love. The King of Navarre andhis three longtime companions abjure the company of women and pursue the worthy pastime of study and contemplation. Their resolve is shattered when the Princess of France and her entourage of three ladies arrive. The four couples pair off and spar in true Shakespearean wit and style.

Sarah Brown (Alisun Armstrong) flirts with Sky Masterson )Christopher Swan) after dinner, drinks and a little night life in Havana.

The Publick Theatre, Inc. closed its 27th Summer Season with Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

The show opened Friday, August 8 at 8 PM, and ran Wednesdays through Sundays through August 31. Thursday, August 7 is the bargain preview performance.